Showing posts with label collecting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collecting. Show all posts

October 17 - National Playing Card Collectors Day

Posted October 17, 2019

There are people who collect one thing and people who collect LOTS of things; there is probably at least one someone who collects every single thing in the world. I once knew a little boy who collected (unused) bandages / Bandaids. I thought it was odd, but when he showed me his collection and explained what each different shape and kind of Bandaid was used for, I was super impressed.



So...if you can collect Bandaids, I suppose you can collect playing cards!

I once read that playing cards were the world's first "portable art." And its true that the printed playing card backs sometimes feature artworks - especially, for some reason, tall ships! 









Of course most decks have geometric patterns rather than teeny copies of paintings.





I'm pretty sure I've never seen a playing card collection, but I'm also sure it would be interesting to check a good collection out!






April 9 – National Cherish an Antique Day

Posted on April 9, 2015


To celebrate National Cherish an Antique Day, dig out a family heirloom (or two or three). Polish it, repair it, send it to the cleaners...


And then display it for all to see and enjoy!


Maybe you'd rather sell than cherish your antiques...in which case, check out this page about researching the value of an antique. 


Last but not least, you could browse antique stores, and maybe even make a purchase. Have you ever considered starting a collection? 



  • Try to collect several globes of different ages so that you can compare the changing names and borders of various countries.

  • Collect metal cans that Band-Aids used to come in, or metal spice cans.

  • Collect outrageous or funny or cool or beautiful old advertising posters.




Also on this date:











(A.K.A.) Finnish Language Day





Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:
And here are my Pinterest boards for:

October 1, 2010

















First postcard – Austria – 1869

On this date in 1869, Austria put on sale the first government postcards. (According to some histories, at least—other sources say this was the first private postcard.)

Picture postcards came later, and with them came the very popular pastime of collecting postcards. (This hobby is called deltiology. In case you were wondering.)

Collectors enjoy acquiring postcards from different countries, and some love discovering old postcards. Unlike postage stamps, postcards are manufactured by many different publishers in many different locations, so it is often hard to figure out the exact date of printing. I imagine some collectors like the challenge of trying to figure out the year of printing from postmarks, clothing and cars, and printing codes that appear on some postcards.

Find out more about collecting postcards here

Here is a link for a cool geography-learning, postcard-swapping activity. When my kids were little, we did something similar and had a great time trading with kids from 35 or 40 of the United States.

To start a collection...

Next time you go on a trip, be sure to buy a postcard from each place you visit, and buy a few extra to send to relatives and friends.

Then, when they go somewhere, ask that they return the favor by sending you a postcard for your collection. (When you tell people you are collecting postcards, you're sure to get more!)

Ask your closest pals and relations to save postcards that they receive for you. (IF they don't have a collection themselves, that is!)